Incumbents had good words for that approach – not surprising – but for the most part participants vocally opposed dropping the CASF performance threshold to 6 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds, from its current 6 Mbps down/15 Mbps up level. They also blasted the idea of allowing Frontier and AT&T to block competition in areas where they are getting federal subsidies, which amounts to most of rural California. Representatives from independent Internet service providers, regional broadband consortia and the CPUC’s office of ratepayer advocates participated, pushing for higher service standards, greater accountability and less bureaucratic overhead in the program.

So lawmakers will decide. They are weighing AB 1665’s lower broadband standards and new rules that are gamed to funnel $300 million of taxpayer money to Frontier and AT&T. Yesterday’s workshop was the first genuine opportunity they’ve had to hear both sides of the debate.